Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit is a pivotal moment in the life of a Christian. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit within us. However, there is a further empowering of the Holy Spirit available that enables us to live boldly and share our faith with conviction. In this article, we will explore what it means to receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
What does it mean to receive the Holy Spirit?
When we first put our faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within our hearts. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” At the moment of salvation, we are indwelt and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The indwelling Holy Spirit begins the process of conforming us into the image of Christ, from the inside out. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 puts it, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” The Spirit convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, and bears spiritual fruit in our lives.
The empowering work of the Holy Spirit
While the Holy Spirit dwells within all believers at conversion, Scripture shows us that there is a further empowering work of the Spirit that often happens subsequent to salvation. When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit:
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” (Acts 1:4-5, 8).
This indicates that the disciples, who were already believers, were going to receive the Holy Spirit in a powerful, new way. This came to pass at Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4. The disciples waited as Jesus instructed, and then they were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” This was accompanied by signs like tongues of fire and speaking in other tongues. After this experience, with the empowering of the Spirit, the disciples began proclaiming the gospel boldly.
What does it mean to receive power?
Jesus said the disciples would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8). Let’s explore biblically what it means to receive power from the Holy Spirit.
Boldness to witness
One manifestation of Holy Spirit power is boldness to share the gospel. Before Pentecost, the disciples were timid and afraid, hiding behind closed doors. But after being filled with the Holy Spirit, they went public with the message of Christ. Acts 4:31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” The Spirit imparted courage and conviction.
Gifts and signs
The empowering of the Spirit also equipped believers with spiritual gifts to build up the church and accompany the preaching of the gospel with signs and wonders. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 lists gifts like prophecy, healing, miracles, and tongues that Holy Spirit imparts as He wills. In the early church, the filling of the Spirit was many times accompanied by supernatural phenomena.
Inner strength
The Holy Spirit’s power also works internally, to strengthen our faith and fortify us against temptation. Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:16 that believers would “be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” And the Holy Spirit enables us to put sin to death (Romans 8:13).
Guidance
The Spirit gives wisdom and guidance to know God’s will and make decisions that honor Him. A key part of the Holy Spirit’s empowering work is to reveal Christ to us and illuminate the Scriptures (John 16:13-15).
Fruit of the Spirit
As we yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading, He produces spiritual fruit in our lives, such as love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit empowers us to live godly lives and influence the world for Christ.
How do we receive power from the Holy Spirit?
If receiving power from the Holy Spirit sounds appealing, you may be wondering how you can experience this empowerment for yourself. Here are some biblical ways to receive power from the Holy Spirit.
Ask in faith
We can simply ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit by faith. Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Come before the Lord with openness and expectancy.
Yield every area of life
The filling of the Spirit requires full surrender on our part. We cannot hold onto sin or self-will if we want to experience Holy Spirit fullness. Yielding areas we have held back allows the Spirit new ground to work in us.
Receive by faith
After asking in full surrender, we receive the Holy Spirit by faith, trusting that God has answered our prayer even if we don’t feel anything initially. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us that God hears when we ask according to His will. And it is clearly His will to fill us with His Spirit (Luke 11:13).
Walk in obedience
The more we obey what the Holy Spirit has already revealed to us and surrender daily to Him, the more He is able to fill us and work through us. As we follow the Spirit’s lead each day, we will experience more empowerment from Him.
Focus on Christ
The Holy Spirit loves to glorify Jesus (John 16:14). Seeking the Spirit’s power should always be in conjunction with focusing on Christ and growing in Him. The Spirit fills us and transforms us as we behold Jesus’ glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Use your gifts
Begin to put into practice whatever spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has already given you, and pray to be used in gifts such as prophecy or healing. As we are faithful to use what we have already been given, the Holy Spirit will entrust us with more.
What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon someone?
There are no hard and fast rules about what will happen when someone experiences the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. Every believer’s story is a little different. Here are some common signs that the Holy Spirit has come upon someone in new fullness:
Deep sense of the presence and glory of God
Often when the Spirit moves in new power, there is an overwhelming sense of God’s manifest presence and glory. Believers may experience deep awe, joyful reverence, and passion for Christ.
Renewed zeal for the things of God
A fresh infilling of the Spirit often produces a revitalized hunger for prayer, worship, Scripture, and sharing the gospel. These spiritual pursuits take on new vitality.
New boldness to testify about Christ
When the power of the Spirit comes, it delivers many people from timidity and empowers them to testify about Christ with boldness. Fear and reservation melt away.
Gifts of the Spirit in operation
The Holy Spirit may begin manifesting spiritual gifts that were previously unknown or dormant. Believers begin to operate in healing, prophecy, tongues, or interpretation through the power of the Spirit.
Emotional responses
Deep conviction of sin, weeping, laughing, physically falling down, and other emotional responses can occur when the Holy Spirit moves in power. These reactions are not universal but are somewhat common.
Supernatural phenomena
Shaking, visions, tongues of fire, miracles, and other supernatural manifestations sometimes accompany the work of the Spirit. Scripture cautions us not to fixate too much on external phenomena but to keep our focus on yielding everything to Christ.
Obstacles that can prevent Holy Spirit empowering
Why do some believers experience powerful fillings of the Holy Spirit, while others do not? Here are some obstacles that can hinder the Spirit’s empowering work:
Lack of expectant faith
God responds to hungry, expectant faith. When people approach the Holy Spirit casually without anticipation of His power, it limits His work. Cultivating an attitude of faith is key.
Spiritual pride
Thinking we already have everything together spiritually can hinder further empowerment. We should come to the Lord with humility, like a child.
Refusing to surrender
Holding onto sinful habits and areas of our lives not submitted to Christ totally restricts the fullness of the Spirit. Yielding everything is non-negotiable if we want to experience His power.
Lack of spiritual discipline
Pursuing prayer, Scripture, worship, and fellowship are vital to being filled with the Spirit. Neglecting spiritual disciplines keeps our lives spiritually malnourished.
Wrong focus
Seeking manifestations for their own sake, instead of full surrender to Christ, hinders true Spirit-empowerment. We must seek the Giver, not just the gifts.
Unconfessed sin
Harboring unrepentant sin quenches the Holy Spirit’s work. Living in holiness and walking in the light are key to experiencing His presence and power.
Conclusion
Every believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within them, but there is also a special empowering work of the Spirit that we should seek after. This comes as we surrender fully, ask in expectant faith, and obey what we already know. The empowering of the Spirit releases boldness, gifts, miracles, guidance, inner strength, and an overflow of the fruit of the Spirit. As we yield ourselves to Christ and focus on glorifying Him, we open ourselves up to the precious Holy Spirit coming upon us in power.